Global Missions at Cedar Springs

Adopted Peoples

Given that less than one cent out of every one hundred dollars contributed by Christians around the world is earmarked to take the Gospel to those who have never heard the name Jesus, Cedar Springs began the adoption process of unreached people groups in 1994. "Snatch others from the fire and save them…" (Jude 23)

How human it is for us to be concerned primarily with our own salvation. But it is wrong to stop there. We must also be concerned for the spiritual safety and security of others. Remember God's challenge in Ezekiel 33 (a paraphrase): "If you warn them and they do not listen, that is their responsibility. If you do not warn them and they perish, I will hold you responsible." That is a great challenge to us as we think of those who still have not heard the gospel.

The church has adopted seven people groups, all of which were "unreached."

Maithili People

  • Where do they live?
    North India, Bihar Province
  • What do they believe?
    Hinduism & Islam primarily; Christian .03%, and the church has been established
  • How many are there?
    27,000,000
  • What is their education?
    38.5% literate; 405 colleges; 11 universities
  • What do they eat?
    Wheat bread, rice, maize, pulses, and vegetables
  • What is their principal occupation?
    Agriculture and mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, mica and bauxite)
  • What has Cedar Springs done to help the gospel reach these people?
    • Contributed $11,500 for the first worship center among new believers there
    • Contributed $20,000 for the purchase of a van to transport the national missionaries, Thambi and Susie Gunasekaran
    • Contributed regularly toward the support of those translating the scriptures into the Maithili language
    • Sent Dave and Christiana Sugantharaj to minister there numerous times
    • Brought the Gunasekarans to the USA to meet you and bless us
    • Met with the Gunasekarans in November 1999 to get a report on the work and learned that one new church was planted in 1999 and a building already constructed from funds provided by the people.
    • Contributed $15,000 for the establishment of a tailoring center where Maithili women will be trained not only to provide for themselves and their families but also to take the gospel back to their villages.

Dong People

  • Where do they live?
    In mountainous Southwest China, primarily in Guizhou Province, but also in Guangxi and Hunan Provinces
  • What do they believe?
    They practice animism, ancestor worship, and worship of the goddess Sa who is an ancient heroine
  • How many are there?
    2.9 Million, which includes Northern and Southern Dong
  • What is their education?
    Only about half are literate or semiliterate, many are unable to speak Mandarin, which is the National language, although it is now required by law to attend primary school and middle school, there are still many that drop out after primary school
  • What do they eat?
    White and sticky rice with cabbage, hot peppers, pickled vegetable, fish, chicken and pork
  • What is their principal occupation?
    Rice farming, forestry, fishing, tung oil collecting, and cotton planting
  • What has Cedar Springs done to help the gospel reach these people?
    • Sent Trey Flautt and Mac Sells to Guizhou Province in September 1999
    • Helped establish a bilingual education program (Dong & Mandarin Chinese) in 2000 with our commitment to continue over a nine-year period
    • Purchased computer equipment to assist language workers
    • Covered the cost for the publication of "The Dong Language in Guizhou Province, China," by Long Yaohong and Zheng Guoqiao, translated from Chinese by D. Norman Geary
    • Taken on the support of additional people to work among the Dong
    • Assisted in the support of workers who are training Dong men and women in business and ministry practices and principles
    • Provided a scholarship for a Dong scholar to study English at the University of Texas for one year
    • Sent short-term teams to Guizhou Province
    • Started a monthly prayer meeting for the Dong

People of Tuva

  • Where do they live?
    Tuva, a Nebraska-sized member of the Russian Federation in south Siberia bordering with Mongolia
  • What do they believe?
    Buddhism by culture and Shamanism as the ancient religion - and the church has been established
  • How many are there?
    250,000 in Russia, about 20,000 more in Mongolia and China
  • What is their education?
    10 years of school, sometimes followed by college
  • What do they eat?
    Meat dumplings, blood sausage; salty green tea with milk
  • What is their principal occupation?
    Herding sheep and goats
  • What has Cedar Springs done to help the gospel reach these people?
    • Invited missionaries in Tuva to a missions conference in 1995 to tell us about the Tuvan people
    • Entered into an agreement with Campus Crusade of Canada for the production of THE JESUS FILM lip-synched into the Tuvan language. CSPC covered the cost of producing this film as well as the cost of the premier showing - approximately $100,000. Members Dave & Linda Ackerson, Carroll & Shirley Coakley, Dale & Barbara Keasling, Jon & Shelly Kreykes and John Sadler were on the first team to go. Many people indicated that they had trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as savior at these meetings, where about 2,000 people, at least, viewed the film. Two Tuvan film teams followed up by taking the film around the country and CSPC covered these expenses. Between 50 and 60 house churches were started since the Jesus Film went to Tuva; some are still in existence a decade later.
    • A team returned to Tuva in 2001 to encourage the believers there, and taught a seminar on discipleship.
    • In 2001 CSPC provided funding for two more projectors and more copies of the JESUS film to continue showing it until every Tuvan has heard the name of Jesus.
    • Provided funds for the publication of the New Testament, the Children's Bible, and siginificant portions of the Old Testament in the Tuvan language.
    • Invited a member of the Tuvan translation team, Lena Samba, to take part in the 2004 mission conference.
    • Partially funded a Christian summer camp in the vicinity of Kyzyl over a period of several years.
    • Provided funds for a talented young Christian lady from Kyzyl name Tatiana to get an education at a Christian college in St. Petersburg.

Nara People

  • Where do they live?
    Eritrea near the Sudan border
  • What do they believe?
    Islam
  • How many are there?
    25,000 to 60,000
  • What do they eat?
    "Doro Wat" - spicy chicken and vegetables with a bland-tasting bread (sort of like a tortilla)
  • What is their principal occupation?
    Nomadic herdsmen
  • What has Cedar Springs done to help the gospel reach these people?
    • Formed a partnership with the Kale Hiwot Church of Asmara, Eritrea in 1996 when two members of their staff visited CSPC and the World Missions Committee
    • Covered the cost of construction of a two-room school building and a residence for the teachers in Mogolo, Eritrea
    • CSPC is paying the salaries for the evangelist and teacher in the first year.
    • Mac and Beth Sells visited the site and photographed progress on the building project in 1997 and stayed several days to encourage the believers in Asmara.
    • There are currently 47 students in class, and hope is that soon this facility will also be used as a church.
    • Provided funds to pay for the damage done to the buildings during the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea

Bozo People

  • Where do they live?
    Mali
  • What do they believe?
    Tribal religions
  • How many are there?
    160,000
  • What is their education?
    Illiterate - most likely
  • What do they eat?
    Rice and fish
  • What is their principal occupation?
    Fishing and rice farming
  • What has Cedar Springs done to help the gospel reach these people?
    • Financed the Bozo Partnership through Interdev which has brought together the key players in Mali to reach this people group
    • Purchased a motorcycle for the evangelist assigned to the Bozo people
    • Paid the first two years salary for the evangelist and will continue to pay on a decreasing scale for a total of five years
    • Known believers among the Bozo people are three men, all of whom are fishermen.

Gikwe People

  • Where do they live?
    Botswana
  • What do they believe?
    Animism - 90% have not yet heard the gospel
  • How many are there?
    10,000
  • What is their education?
    Illiterate
  • What do they eat?
    Melons, seeds, nuts, and antelope meat
  • What is their principal occupation?
    Hunting and gathering
  • What has Cedar Springs done to help the gospel reach these people?
    • Purchased a vehicle for missionaries to reach the Gikwe people who live a nomadic existence
    • Covered costs for a team of evangelists to take the gospel to the Gikwe people in the fall of 2000. (Several people were saved and are being followed-up by an itinerant evangelist.)
    • Provided funds for the translation to audio tapes of the books of Luke and Acts

Mozambique People

In partnership with World Relief, Cedar Springs has "adopted" the country of Mozambique. Your prayers and giving have made this possible.

Mozambique Prayer Meeting
All are welcome. We meet at 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month (except November and December) in the upstairs East wing conference room. Contact Joel Lown (690-7105).

Missions Resources